County Attorney News Releases

​Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom announced that Roger Earl Holland, age 37 of Apple Valley, was sentenced today by Judge Timothy McManus to two consecutive life sentences without parole in connection with his conviction of First Degree Murder (with premeditation and intent to kill) of his wife, Margorie Ann Holland, age 37, and her unborn child on March 7, 2013. No sentences were imposed for the lesser included offenses of Second Degree Murder of both victims under Minnesota law. The trial in this case lasted two weeks and the jury deliberated for approximately 10 hours. A guilty verdict on all counts was returned by a Dakota County Jury shortly after midnight last evening.

Backstrom noted that under Minnesota law, to convict someone of First and Second Degree Murder of an unborn child, it is not necessary for a jury to find that a person had intent to kill the unborn child, or did so with premeditation, provided the defendant intended to kill the unborn child’s mother and did so with premeditation.

Backstrom commented: “We are pleased to have brought Roger Holland to justice for this senseless and violent crime that took the lives of Margorie Holland and her unborn child. Our deep sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Marjorie Holland for their great loss.”

Backstrom thanked the Apple Valley Police Department, the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension who assisted in the investigation of this case. Backstrom praised Chief Deputy Phil Prokopowicz for his outstanding work prosecuting this difficult case.